Refrigerator display case



`5 Sheets-Sheet 2- April 3, 192s. G. SCHMIDT REFRIG-ERATOR DISPLAY CASE Filed Deo. 50 192.7

April 3, gl., 11,564,489

G. SCHMIDT REFRI G EHATOR DI SPLAY CASE Filed Dec. 30, 19427 3 SheetS-Sheet iti @attended Adpr. 3, 192B.

GUSTAV SCHMIDT, OF CINCINNdTI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE GINCNNATI BUTGHERS SUPFLY CDMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CBPGRATION 0F GEIQ.

REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY EASE.

Application filed December 3o, w27. Serial No. 243,559.

My invention relates to refrigerator dis-V play cases arranged to exhibit goods and to subject the same to cooling action nWhile being displayed.

My invention is exemplified as employed in. connection with a refrigerator display case arranged to rest upon the floor of the store. and provided with a bottom adjacent said door, with a serving counter top, over which the goods are arranged to be Served to the customer, and a rear Wrapping counter located at a lower level than said serving counter top.

lit is the object of my invention to so construct a refrigerator display case as to provide a maximum amount of display space, and to bring substantially all portions of the display space to the view of the customer in novel manner; and, further, to provide novel arrangement of means whereby said goods are readily accessible to the at* tendant or salesman.

lt is the object of :ny invention, further, to provide a display oase with full View exposure transparent closures extending upwardly and beginning adjacent to the loot- A toni line ot the case `and arranged side by fsf side in the iront ot the case; further, to provide substantially full view end closures and full view front closures extending from substantially the bottom line oft the display case to the serving counter top thereof, and Jforming substantially Continuous exposure oic the interior of the case for substantially full view of the contents of said display case; and, further, to provide a refrigerat ing element arranged crossvvise in the interior of the display case, whereby to divide said interior into a plurality ot display spaces arranged side by side.

lt is the object of my invention further to provide the upper portion of the display ease between the wrapping counter and the serving counter top with slopingly arranged doors for convenient access of the attendant into the interior and for providing an upper space in the display case which converges toward the top; and, further, to provide a refrigerating element arranged crosswise of the interior of the display case having an upper portion., the lupper rear edge portion of which slantingly arranged to correspond with the @general slope of said rear doors.

.it is the object ol': my invention furtherto provide novel means in a full view rel-'nigerm ator display case of the charaotorinentloned whereby to support the goods; tar

ther, to provide novel means for support" ing the goods and novel arrangement et doors permitting their convenient from the interior of the cas-e; and, tartiner, to provide a novel arrangement oli sii alain shelving, and novel means for shifting said shelvingr between said refrigerating ments for ready access to the Hoods. Y

The invention will be farther readily nnderstood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in Wiiieli latter:

Fig. l is a. perspective view oit my improved device, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section, teiten in the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig. 6 eliovving the relation of the refrigerating element, the shiftable goods shelves, the doors and the front transparent closures.

Fig. a is a longitudinal section et the saine taken in the plane of the line lee-Jl ot Fig. 6. l

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a. detail oi" the saine, partly broken awa showing time means for supporting the slie vos.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section ot my improved device taken in the plane oft the line 6-6 of Fig. le

Fig. Z is a cross-section of a detail oi? my improved device taken in the plane oit the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, and partly lorolien away.

showing the supporting means for the shit?"- able shelf, and;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail ot the same, talrenA in the plane of the line 8-8 et Fig. 7i partly broken away showing .the shiftable shelf in. normal position in loll lines and in tilted position tor removal oli the same in dotted lines.

The refrigerator display case comprises a base 21, forming a bottoni Wall, front corner posts 22 which slope slightly rearwardly toward their tops, intermediate front posts 23, correspondingly slanted, and a top longitudinal stringer 24 for lforming front display openings 25, 2" which display openings es tend substantially throughout tire length and height ot the ease for full exposure ofthe interior of the case through its iront. 'lilie framing ot the dass further comprises rear titl end posts 3i. and intermediate rear posts 562i.,

nl; the top oi which there is a reni counter 33, which ruay he designated n Wrapping counter. Openings are thus formed between said npr-lights, the bese of the cese und seid e wrapping counter, arranged to be closed by doors Sei, respectively supported on the rear posts by suitable liinges und l'ieldxin closed positions by' latches 3o.

llorwnrdly and upwardly slanting end lo pieces ell. connect et their bottoms with the rear end posts 3l and et their tops' with. cross-pieces 42, the letter connecting with the iii-ont end posts 22, :for forming; each of 'the ends ot the case with a display opening io i3 extending substantially throughout the depth ot' the cese and from its bottom past the wrapping counts;` to substantially the top oi the case., l

A longitudinal Stringer connects the 2o upper corner between' the upwardly igor-A Wnrdly sloping end-piece il end the top crosspiece 112, at. the respective ends of the onse, stiiening breces i6 being` slnntingly located between the structure of the wrapping p 25 counter and said longitudinal stringer d5,

for steadying und sti'lening sind longitudinal Stringer,

in upwardly forwardly sloping rear Well of the oase is thus formed, in which there 3o is e door opening; 4'?, which may extend throughout 'the length of the cese.. Rnnways ere located on the lower end upper Wells oi seid door opening for upwardly orvvz'ndly sloping doors 5l. There is preferably n pair of the `'stiflening braces do, located under the respective ends of the middle one of the doors 5i, end forni. stops for the doors adjacent to said middle door. The doors eoni` prise lower slidinga doors and upper sliding;

io doors. rlhe lower sliding doors slide under the end ones ofthe ripper sliding doors, and the upper sliding doors slide over the lower sliding; doors.

The inner edges oi the upper and lower e5 nelle o said opening are provided with Einziges 52. forming runways for the inner doors, and the outer doors are provided with flanges 53 enacting with the' upper und lower Walls of suid opening lor forming runways fio for the outer sliding doors:

A n upper display opening-55 is provided :in the top of the cese between the frowerd string'er 24, the rear stringer l5 and the endy cross-pieces 41-2, through which the interior 55 of the ense may also be viewed. The opening' thus formed is arranged to he sealed by transparent closure plates 56 und a top transparent plate' 57, having dead air spaces 58 between them, for resist-infr transference oi So heat between the inside find the outside of the case. This top of the euse' forms a delivering or servingcounter` for the attendant, Whose position is in rear oi the The 'front openings W 2li. are sealed by o5 transparent closure pluies 6l, between which Lesen-ee there ere dead nir spaces 62, lor resistingl transference 0I heat between the inside und' .of heat between the inside and the outside of the oase.

The doors lere provided with display openings, sealed by: transparent closure plates 68, having dead air spaces 69 between there, for resisting transference of heilt through said doors.

The transparent closure plates are preferably sheets oi' glass. This improved construction exposes the interior oi' the case to the view of the customer from its front, its ends and its top, throughout substantially the height, the length and the Width of the Cese, so ns to fully expose'the contents of the ense, and the transparent closure plates in the doors 51 additionally expose the contents olf the cese to the salesman.

lie buse ot' the case and the balance of the framework thereof and the inuin doorszire suitably heet, insulated in any desirable manner, not more particularly shown loe` cause the providing ot' such insulation will he readily understood by those skilled in the nrt.

lei'rigerating elements are disposed inuprighi, n'uinner erosswise of the case and forni partitions, which divide the interior of the ense into display compartments. One or' more of the reiiilgeratingelements may he employed. The refrigerating elements muy be of any Suitable kind for employing` any kind ofk refrigerant. Two of these. refrigeretino; elements are shown at 7l, 72. for dividing the cese into compartments 73, 74, 75, for the goods', such :is meats, sausages land other food products. The middle conipnrtnientis shown Wider than the end coinpartinents, being shown substantially twice as Wide as each of the end compartments.

rilhe reihrigerator elements are shown as pipes, through which the refrigerantesuch :is brine, ammonia; or othei` fluid refrigerant, may How or be-ioreed For causing cooling: or refrigeretion in the interior of therese. f

The relirigeruting elements are shown ns lOCiQCl in rem* Ofille pOSi'S Q3, between The transparent display openings :it the liront of the cese` and infront of the end ones of the intermediate posts 32, so as to locate sind reiiinjeruting elements between the mein doors :it the rear of the ense. The .front ediles ot the refrigereting elements are located behind the intermediate posts 23 heretienen tween the liront display openings so as to obscure the sanie from direct observation by the customer.

These refrigerating elements are respectively shown. as pipes arranged in narrow loops 78, the loops having preferably substantially similar major axes in the main portion of the case, to which access is had by means ot the main doors 34, the loops gradually decreasing in length along their major axes in the upper contracting portion of the case toward the top of the interior of the case.

'The loops are supported by uprights 79, 80, there being a pair of these uprights ad- 'acont each end of the refrigerating element.

ach pair of uprights is connected by a cross-strip 8l, forming a foot tor the uprights on which the I`uprights rest on the base. 'lhe respective 'loops are secured to these uprights, as by ineens of welding or brazing, for forming a rigid structure. The front uprights extend preferably through out the height of the piping and the rear uprights preferably extend throughout the height of the coils of greater diameter'.

The pipingl olE the respective refrigerating elements is connected, as by means of a stretch of piping 82, extending from the top of the piping of the refrigerating element 71 and slanting downwardly and rearwardly parallel with theslant of the upper doors 51, and having a lower rear portion 83 extending rearwardly into the cavity under the wrapping counter, and extending into the corner 84 between said wrapping` counter and the rear lower doors, the pipe extending thence as a longitudinal portion 85 in the angle between said wrapping counter and the main doors to a point in front of the rear intermediate door post 32, which is behind the refrigerating element 72, the pipe continuing as a downwardly extending portion 86 and connectingwith the lower end.

` of the piping forming` the refrigerating element 72.

The refrigerating element 72 is formed similarly' to the refrigerating element 71, with the exception preferably that a downwardly extending portion 87 extends from the rearwailly extending' portion 83 ot' the retrigerating element ,72. This downwardly extending portion is located in line with the intermediate post 32 adjacent thereto. The refrigeratingl element 71 may be provided with a feeding-in pipe 88, and the retrigern atingelement 72 may be provided with a.`

feeding-out pipe 89. Suitable valves may be provided for the iii-feeding` and the outeeding piping for regulating the amount nt refrigerant .passingl through the pipes. The refrigerant may have a tlow indicated by the arrows 9 0.

rllhe arrangement of the retrigerating elenient-s is suoli that circulation ot air is caused in the case for subjecting all parts ot the case to the cooling or refrigerating action of lthe refrigerating agents. The general course of the air currents adjacentto the refrigeratingl elements-is downward and then lateral at both sides of the refrigerating element, then upward, intermediate between the refrigerating element-s in the wider or middle display section, and at the ends ot the case, and then again lateral toward the refrigerating elements, whereby all parts of the case are subjected to the actions ot' the cooled currents. lhe general courses ot the currents are indicated by the dotted arrows 91.

Goods supportingV shelving` is provided in the case, this shelving being exemplified as upper shelves S15, intermediate shelves 96, and lower shelves 9i. The shelves are pret erably fornied pertorate. The shelves 95 and 96 are .shown formed of crossing wires rigidly secured together to forni the shelves as rigid structures. 'lhcse shelves are arranged et each side ot' the retrigerating ele ments, there being preferably two sect-ions .tor each shelt between the retrigerating elements, and one section for each shelf being preferably located between the respective retrigerating sections and the respective ends of the case. Each ot the shelf sections is provided with an upwardly turned portion 98 adjacent to the refrigerating element, whereby the goods on the shelves are held out ot contact with the refrigerating elements.

The upper shelves 95 are supported at their rear ends in the angle ot an angle iron 101, fixed to brackets 102, secured to the in ner portion of the wrapI'Jii'i'p,l counter portion of the case. rl'he shelves 9G are supported at their rear ends in the angle ot an angle iron '103, releasably held in clips 104. secured to the inner faces ot' the rear posts 3l.

The forward ends ot said respective shelves are sui'iported on angle irons 105, 106. (lne ot the walls of said respective angle irons is received in clips 107, secured to the inner faces of the front intermediate. posts 23 and end posts Q2 of the display case, for placingl said clips out of view ot the customer.

The angle irons '103, 1053` 10G, are respectively provided with openings 108 through which the hook portions of clips are received. The upright wall of the angle iron is received between the bool; portion and the body of the clip, which torins a slot, the walls ot which hold the angle iron in angular position for support of the shelves thereon.

There quite a long space between the 'front posts 23, and l preferto reenforce the Jfront angle irons spanning said space at intermediate points to prevent sagging of the saine and to prevent forward bowing; ot the saine, diie to the weight and the toee of Ell lll)

handling the goods on the shelves supported thereby. Thisl is exemplified as accomplished by means of tension members 111, 112, 113,

' shown as chains.

yto

The chain 111 is stretched between a hook 114 in the inner face of the central rear post 32 and the front angle iron 105, midway otv hooked in holes in said respective angle tov Elli

(ill

irons. T his chain is located under the chain 111. The chain 113 is supported atits top by means oi a hook 116 secured in the top longitudinal rail 24 midway between the posts 23, and depends therefrom.

The chain 113 is secured to the chain 111 at the forward end of the'elatte'r by an interlacing connection 117, and tothe forward end of the chain 112 by an interlacing connection 118, for suspendingly supporting the middle portions of the forward angle irons 105, 106. The flexible connections are releasable,y as by means o't said hook connec# tions from the case, and the front angle irons and the lower rear angle 1ron are removable, as by being raised out of their supporting hooks. Y

lt'it is desired to clean the interior of the case, the shelf sections are raised from ,their supports and removed through the rear doors. The chains may also be released and removed from the case, and the front angle irons and the lower rear angle iron vmay be raised otl' their supports and removed from the case, and conveniently cleaned and then replaced. The removal of these parts also permits ready cleaning of the inner faces of the transparent closures at the front and ends ot' the case. I

There is preferably one ot lower shittable shelves 9T for each of the rear main doors of the case. These shelves are formed of a framework 119, to which separated slats 120 are fixed, the framework being provided with laterally extending flanges 121', riding on rollers 1&2.l rotatable on axles 123, fixed in runways 124, each comprising an upper angle iron 125 and feet 126 rigidly secured together. the l'ect being secured to the bot tom ot the caso. The laterally extending wings 12T ot thc angle irons 125 are received over the .laterally extending flanges 121, the laterally extending flanges 121 sliding between said rollers and said wings 127.

'lhese lower shelves are arranged to slide outwardly through the door openings of the rear main doors 34. so that the goods thereon. which are usually the heaviest and bulkiest goods in the case, may be moved outwardly, so tol be readily handled bv the attendant or salesman. These shelves are ot a width to conveniently pass through the door openincense ings when said doors. are opened, and the pintles ot' the hinges 35 on which said doors are hung, are preferably laterally spaced from the margin of the door opening to permit the inner face of the door, which door is usually thick and heavily heat insulated, to be in an out-of-tlieavay position with relation to the slidable shelf when the door is opened for access to said shelf.

The outward movement of these shelves is also preferably limited to prevent the shelf under normal sliding relations to be moved lout of its runways, and-to insure that suthcient portions ot the laterally extending flanges 121 are maintained between the rear one of its supporting rollers and enacting wings 127, to prevent undue downward tilting` of the rear end ot the shelf. This is Vin stanced as accomplished by providing the frame 119 with a lug '128, adjacent to its front end, and the'angle iron 125 with a coacting lug 129, adjacent to the rear end of the runway 124. The rearward sliding movements of. each ot the shiftable shelves 97 is limited by having its lugs 128 strike the lug 129.

If it is desired to entirely removeithe shell. the rear end of the .shclt is tipped up war-diy,` as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. d, whereby the lug 128 on the shelf is tipped downwardly into the space between the rear pairs 'of rollers, below the lug 129, moving the lugs or projections into nen-interfering relations,and permitting the shelf to be removed from the casein tilted relations, as forl cleaning and other purposes.

Having thus'fvullydescrihed my invention. what l claim as new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is:

y 1. A refrigerator display case comprising a base arranged to be supported on the door end posts extending upwardly from the front portion of said base ttor dividingl the front portion of the case in'to display o euings arranged side'by side lengthwise o tht` case', the upper portion of the rear wall ot the case sloping forwardly to form an interior of the case which contracts cross-sectional] at itsnpper portion, and refrigerating e ementsl provided with contracting upper portions and arranged erosswise ot the interiorfot the case in rear of said posts respectively and extending into said contracting upper portion of said interior for dividing said interior into display sections in rear ot said respective display openings.

2. A-refrigerator display case comprising a Vframe including a bottom adjacent the floor, a serving counter top, a wrapping counter at the rear portion ot' said frame lower than said serving counter, a. display front extending from substantially said bot-A tom to substantially said serving counter top, and slantingly arranged, slida le doors between said serving counter top and said loll " Looms@ arranged upper portion in the level df said -slantingly arranged slidable doors.

3. A refrigerating display case coln rising e frame including a bottom-adjacen the licor, a. serving counter top, a, wra ping counter at the rear portion Ot seid ruine lower than said serving counter, and a rear wall beneath the wrapping counter und forming an angle in the interior of said case with said wrapping counter, aplurality of upright refrigerating elements extending in spaced-apart relations crosswise in and substantially throughout the height of the'inte'- rior of said Atrarne and cach comprising piping, and connecting piping between said retrigerating elements extending lengthwise in seid angle.

i 4. A. refrigerator display casing comprising a frame including e bottom adjacent the Hoor, a serving counter top, a wrapping counter at the rear portion of said frame lower than said serving counter top, a display front extending from substantially said bottoin to substantially said serving counter top, doors between said serving counter top and the inner edge of said wrapping counter end forming zzn-upper shallow interior portion 4of seid display case above the horizontal piene of: said wrapping counter, refrigerator doors in the rear wall of said frame under the rear edge of said wrapping counter and forming e lower deep interior portion of said display ease, shelving in 'the interior of said frame in substantially the horizontal lane of said wrapping counter, end e retrigerating element com rising e lower deep portion in said lower eep interior portion of said display case andextending under seid wrepping counter sind en upper shallow portion ent/ending above seid shelfinto seid upper shallow interior poru tion of seid display case.

5. A refrigerator displey case comprising a frame including e bottom adjacent the floor, e serving counter top, e, wre ping counter at the rear portion of: seid 'rame lower than said serving counter top, e display iront extending 4from substentially seid bottom to substantially said serving counter top, display doors between seid serving counter top and the inner edge of said wrap ping counter and forming an upper shallow interior portion of saiddispley cese above the horizontal piene of seid wrapping coun ter, refrigerator doors in the rear well oi said frame under the rear edge ot said .wrapping counter and forming a lower deep interior portion of said display case, refrigerating elements arranged crosswise ci the interior of said case in spacednpartrelation, dividing seid interior into a plurality of goods compartments arranged side by side lengthwise of said interior and comprising end goods compartments and an interniediete goods compartment, and shelving at the respective sides of said retrigerating elements, seid shelving located in the interior of said frame in substantially the hori-` zontel plane of said wrapping counter, each ot said refrigereting elements comprising it lower deep portion in seid lower deep inv terior portion of said display cese end er;- tending under seid wrapping counter, and an up er shallow portion entendin above said shelving into said upper shal ow interior portion et said displey case.

In testimony whereof., il have hereunto signed my name.

*GUSTAV SUMit/lim@ Ill 

